Nail driving machine



pri w47. v T. W. HAMsL-ION HAL Mig NAL DRIYIN! MACHINE Filed Ooi.- 15, 94fl` 2 Sheets-Sheet l Apn w?. T. W. HAWLTON ETAL l NAIL DRIVING MACHINE v Filed Oct. l5, 1941 2 Shams-Sheet 2 Patented Apr. 1, 1947 UNITED STATE s PATENT OFFICE NAIL DRIVXNG MACHINE Application October 15, 1941, Serial No. 414,994

16 Claims. (Cl. 1-46) This invention relates to improvements in machines for driving fastening devices to nail, tack, or staple objects together', and more particularly concerns such a machine which is eX- ceptionally well adapted for heavy duty uses such as for driving a relatively large type of nishing nail.

With such a machine the nails are driven by striking the head of a driving plunger which transmits the force of the blow to the nail. ln order to drive a nail up to seven-eighths of an inch or more in length completely home flush with or countersunk in a wooden structure, the driving blow must be applied with considerable force, this being done frequently with the aid of .a mallet. The machine is therefore literally subjected to countless severe beatings The prior machines have proven to be structurally unreliable and oftentimes heavy, clumsy,

and in many respects of complicated construction. have been lacking in adaptability, and because their construction has been incapable of nwithstanding the stressesand strains of hard usage, they have been inordinately liable to break down, necessitating all to frequent servie ing or replacement.

An object of our invention is to improve nail driving machines to overcome the foregoing and other deficiencies and limitations, and to produce a machine which is simple and eicient in 'nails within the magazine against ejection by the resilient pusher by which the nails are urged into nailing position relative to the driving plunger.

fi. A novel pusher and pusher release lock. u 5. A novel pressure foot arrangement. 6. A novel arrangement oi separable parts which facilitates quick, accurate and tight-tting assembly of the machine and which simplifles disassembly1 when required.

7. An improved handle arrangement enabling l the machine to be used with equal facility when Y.

working upon horizontal or vertical or variously inclined structures to be nailed.

Another object is to provide a machinelof this general type which is particularly well suited for quantity production methods of manufacture, and which is readily adaptable with only a minimum and practically inconsequential revision in structure for accommodating various styles of headed fasteners such as nails, tacks, staples or the like.

Other objects and advantages of our invention will appear more fully from the following `description and from the accompanying drawings, in which similar characters of reference indicate similar parts throughout the several Views.

Fig. l is a perspective view of a machine emjbcdying the features of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the machine with parts broken away and in section to show certain details of construction; l

Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse sectional View taken substantially along line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a fragmental sectional view taken Vsubstantially along the horizontal line 4-11 of Fig. .2.;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional elevational view on an enlarged scale taken in a Vertical 1ongitudinal plane through the forward end of the machine, and showing details of the nail driving mechanism;

Fig. 6 is a horizontal sectional View taken substantially along line 6 6 of Fig. 5; and

Fig. '7 is an exploded assembly view of themachine.

A driving machine Hl (Fig. l), embodying the features of the invention, includes a magazine Il (Figs. 2, 3 and 7) which is adapted to `be loaded with finishing nails I2. The latter have relatively small, hook-shaped heads i3 and are adhered in side-by-side relation into stick form for ease in handling and loading into the magazine. A

pusher Ul urges the nails I2 forwardly in the magazine Il so that by the operation of a naildriving plunger structure l5, the nails can be successively detached from the stick, and at the same time ejected from the bottom of the Inachine and driven into the structure to be nailed. The magazine l! and the driving plunger structure l5 are enclosed and to a more or less extent secured in iXed assembly by a body structure comprising a pair of cooperating casing plates I1 and is. The body structure carries a. handle I9 for convenient handling and maneuvering of the machine into nailing position.

The magazine il embodies a construction which is particularly strong and easily made and is unusually adaptable in design for accommodating practically any form of fastening device that may be driven by a machine of this type. Thus, the magazine is in the form. of a composite bar built up from a plurality of laminations of elongated, preferably sheet metal, strips secured together in broad face to broad face parallel relation and selected-as to width and thickness and so relatively disposed as to provide a proper trackway for the nails I2. By reference to Figs. 3, 6 and 7, it may be seen that the present preferred construction of the magazine comprises Va self-contained unit having relatively thin outer face plates 20 and 2l engaging flatwise against identical relatively thick side plates 22 between which are spacer plates 23 and 24, of just slightly greater thickness than the thickness of the shank and hook portions, respectively, of the nail l2. Between the spacer plates is a center rail plate 25 which is of a thickness to be received in freely slidable relation within the hooks I3 of the nail sticks. All of they plates are aligned at their rear ends and along their lower edges. The spacer Aplates 23 and 24 are narrower than the side plates 22, suiciently to provide therewith and the rail plate 25, channels of a trackway for freely receiving the hook prongs and the Shanks, respectively, of the nails.

The rail plate 25 is preferably sufiiciently narrower than the side plates 22, to an extent approximately equal to -the vertical thickness of the crowns of the nails nails I2 may be accommodated within the magazine II by varying the trackway as required lthrough the simple expedient of selecting laminations of suitable proportions, particularly as to thickness and width. The lamination plates are preferably sheet metal such as steel,but it is lobvious that they may be formed from otherY materials such as one of the hardened plastics.

I -Whilethe laminated construction of the magazine bar I I is possibly the most economical construction where only moderate quantities of the machine are to be made, all or part of the magazine could also be made of solid construction `as'by moulding or casting where the circumstances warrant.

In order to hold the nails I 2 down in the track offthe magazine II, means is provided, such as =an-integral inwardly directed horizontal flange 28, along the upper margin of the side plate 20.

IThis flange' partially overlies the nail track, and

has its longitudinal edge above the rail plate 25. When the nails are lying normally in the magav*zine track, the flange 28 overlies the crowns of the nails I2 in freely spaced relation, but serves to preventV theY nails from leaving the track for any reason,` as` for example when the machine 'is inverted.

The pusherl I4 is preferably vformed from suitable -gauge sheet metal and comprises an elongated metalbody plate 29 (Figs. 2, 3 and 7) adapted to ride vertically in the shank-receiving channel of the nail track in the magazine II.

"At itsforward end the body plate 29 is formed to provide a substantially inverted L-shaped butt 30 which is substantially the counterpart in shape of thenails I2 at the rear of which it is --adapted'to engage.

The crown of the butt 30 rides entirely within the nail track, and ls of a substantial dimension from front to rear of the pusher although shorter than the body plate 29,

for a purpose which will presently appear.

Rearwardly of the butt 30 the pusher body plate 29 extends up sufficiently above the top of the butt 3Q to clear they upper face of the retaining iiange 25 and carries an integral, rearwardly elongated, laterally projecting head flange 3|. This flange overlies and is of approximately the width of the retaining fiange 28 (Figs. 3 and 4).

An integral, lateral extension 32 of the head flange 3| projects substantially beyond the magazine II and provides a handle for manipulation of the pusher. Down-turned integral flanges 33 at the opposite sides of the'handle 32, strengthen the handle and provide convenient finger holds.

A number of important features which make for greater strength, reliability and eciency of the machine, are embodied in the design of the driving plunger structure l5. 'The actual driving element of this structure is an elongated blade 35 preferably made from sheet steel selected forV its hardness or capability of being hardened. The blade 35 has a lower driving end portion 31 of substantially the same width as the nail head i 3 and preferably slightly hollow-shaped at its tip as indicated at 38 to conform generally to the shape of the nail crown and thus engage the latter fullywhen driving.

The upper portion of the driving blade 35 is associated with a short vertical plunger 39 which is preferably of rectangular cross-section. At its upper end the plunger has a fixed head 4G of preferably round disk form and substantial diameter to which may be applied a striker cushion crown 4I providing a substantial sponge rubber or like shock-absorbing and protective pad on top of the head.

Instead of securing the driving blade 35 to the plunger 39, We have found it advantageous to associate them unattachedly in flat face-to-face relation with the upper end of the blade abutting the adjacent under-side of the plunger head 4l! so as to receive the full benefit of driving force from the plunger. To assure return of the blade 35 with the plunger 39 from the nail driving position, an interlock is provided by means of an integral lug 42'struck` from the body of the blade 35 and extending inwardly out of the plane there'- of into a shallow interlock recess 43 in the adjacent face of the plunger (Fig. 5).

The blade 35 and the plunger 59 are guided for vertical nail-driving and return movement within a guideway 44 perpendicular to the front end of the magazine I I. The guideway 44 is dimerisioned in cross-section to receive the blade 35 and plunger 39 with a reasonably snug but freely slidable fit, and may be formed within a relatively thick-walled tube 45. 'I'his'tube may have a continuous vertical slot 46 (Figs. 4 and 7) in its rear wall to permit entry of a forming tool thereinto for a purpose to be described presently. The length of the guide tube 45 is so proportioned to the stroke of the blade 35 and plunger 39 that at the completion of the driving stroke the underface of the plunger head 49 comes to a stop against the upper end of the tube. I

A xed assembled relationship of theV plunger guide tube 45 with the magazine bar I I is effected by having the lower end portion of the plunger tube straddle'the Vforward end portion of the magazine bar. Thus, the lower ends of the side walls of the guide tube are spaced apart sufficiently to receive the forward end portions of the face plates 2li and 2l snugly, and the lower part of the rear wall slot t5 is enlarged as indicated at 46a (Fig. 6) to accommodate the magazine bar. The front end of the magazine bar its firmly against the inside of the iront wall of the guide tube. This assembly may be maintained by a bolt 41 extending through an aperture 11a in one side of the guide tube t5 and through a registering bolt hole it in the front end portion of the magazine bar. The bolt 41 has its head countersunk flush at the aperture 47a and its threaded end screwed into a tapped hole 4.9 in the opposite side wall or" the tube.

A vertical nail driving passageway 50, to aocommodate the nail l2 to be driven and the driving end portion 31 of the driving blade, is formed between the forward wall of the guide tube 5 and the adjacent end of the magazine bar l l by an appropriate shortening of the track plates 23, 2t and 25. The forward ends of the track-plates tllus form the rear wall of the passageway 5G, while the forwardly extending end portions of the side plates 22 form the side walls of the passageway.

In order to permit easy loading of the magazine H with sticks of the nails E2, the front wall of the guide tube 45 is provided with a gateway 5l in the form of a slot of substantially the same width as the nail track of the magazine il, and extending up from the lower end of the tube to a height which will allow the nails to clear therethrough into the magazine.

Unintentional egress of the nails from the magazine beyond the driving passageway 5] is prevented by closing the gateway 5l by means oi a sliding gate 52. According to the present invention, the gate 52 is formed from a relatively thin spring steel strip and rides within a vertical slideway 53 provided therefor in the inside face of the guide tube front wall. The slideway 53 is of a depth and width substantially corresponding to the thickness and width respectively of the gate 52. Through this arrangement the gate 52 is substantially flush with the inside front wall face of the tube 45 so that even though the driving blade 35 has free sliding bearing engagement with said front wall face at opposite sides or the gate 52, the latter will not be fricticnally displaced as an incident to return movement of the driving blade after a driving stroke. Furthermore, as seen in Figs. 2, 5 and 6, the gate 52 as a result of this arrangement, forms a perfect replacement across the gateway slot 5l for the slotted-ont portion oi inner front wall face of the guide tube, and receives the foremost nail I2 thereagainst in position to be driven.

In the forming of the slideway 53, the rear wall slot i5 in the guide tube enables the convenient insertion of a forming tool into the tube.

At its upper end, the gate 52 projects above the upper end of the front wall of the guide tube, and has an integral forwardly extending flange 5 providing a finger hold for sliding the gate up or down in opening or closing the gateway 5 i.

Assurance against `accidental opening of the gate 52 by upward movement of the driving blade may be had by forming an integral portion of the gate, intervening between the body of the gate and the ange 551i, into a resilient latch arranged to loop down over and friotionally engage the upper margin oi the front wall of the guide tube in the closed position of the gate. .The latch includes a detent heel 55 adjacent the inner end of the linger hold flange 54 to engage resiliently--withina transversely grooved interlock notchll in the front face oi the guide tube. The upper outer corner of the guide tube front Wall may be tapered as indicated at 58 to facili' tate sliding of the detent heel 55 into laltching position.

The plunger 39 is normally maintained resiliently in extended position at the top of the guide tube d5 by suitable means such as a coiled compression spring 59 which extends up into and is seated at its upper end within a downwardly opening central bore 60 in the plunger. At its lower end, the compression spring 55 is seated upon the forward end portion of the retaining flange 28, which for this purpose is partially extended inwardly as indicated at 6| to substantially meet a cooperating inturned ange S2 lying in the same plane integral with the upper margin of the side plate 2|. Thus, the liange extension il and the forward end of the end portion of the flange t2 form a platform-like seat for the spring 59 bridging over the nail track. At its forward edge, the bridge extension Si is set back enough to clear the driving blade 35. The length oi the bridge extension is approximately the same the pusher butt 30, and at its rear edge it is about even with or a little rearwardly of the inner face of the overhanging guide tube rear wall.

Upward movement of the plunger 39 under the influence of the spring 59 is limited by a pin 63 (Figs. 2 and 5) extending from one side wall of the guide tube 45 into and engageable with the lower end of a vertical clearance slot 6l! in the adjacent side of the plunger.

Since both the magazine bar l I and the plunger guide tube i5 are substantially self-sustaining and capable of withstanding all reasonable stresses and strains in use, and are substantially connected together in proper operating relationship, the body plates l1 and I8 are required to do little else than enclose the magazine and guide tube assembly, and to some extent reinforce the connection thereof. In addition, the plates may serve as the means for mounting and supporting the handle i9. Since the plates ITI and I8 are substantially identical, in reverse order, except for certain specic and specialized differences as will become readily apparent, similar reference numerals will be used in describing the several like features of the plates.

Because they are free from the most vigorous operating stresses and strains, both ofthe plates il and 4S may be made from relatively light gauge sheet metal, considering the service for which the machine is intended. Each plate cornprises a main vertical body portion which is secured at its lower margin to the magazine bar il. Thus, the plate il bears flatwise along its lower margin against the outer face of the side plate Es, and the plate I8 similarly bears against the side plate 2i of the magazine. Means for removably securing the plates to the magazine bar comprises a set of bolts 63 which pass entirely through registering apertures 6d inthe plates and transverse bores 55 extending through the magabar.

In order to accommodate the plunger guide tube Vl=teenforcing iiangest at the front of the channels engage the front wall of the guide tube Aand are suitably notched out at 69 and l'lil for clearing the gateway 5 I` and the latch 55, respec- Y- 7 tively. Removable securing means, such as screws 1I, extend through apertures 12 adjacent the top and bottom of each of the channels 61 and are threaded into tapped bores 13 in the respective side walls of the plunger guide tube 45.

Vertical reenforcing flanges 14 are formed along the rear margins of the plates I1 and I8 and cooperate to enclose the rear end of the magazine Il. Y l

The upper edges of the plates I1 and I8 are preferably formed on a common slant, extending downwardly and rearwardly to form with the handle I9 a convenient hand hole 15 (Figs. l and 2). Reenforcing flanges 16 extend inwardly along said upper edges and cooperate to substantially enclose the top of the body under the handle. Y

The handle I 9 is of a particularly advantageous form and construction, being of substantially L-shape and proportioned with respect to the rearwardly diminishing construction of the body of the machine to complete what is in effect a substantially rectangular outline. The longer reach of the handle I9 extends forwardly from the short reach and in the main parallel with the magazine bar II, dipping down slightly adjacent its forward end to provide a finger guard heel 1l. The design of the handle is well adapted for economical moulding or casting thereof.

The forward extremity of the handle I9 preferably butts squarely against the rear face of the plunger guide tube 45 (Figs. 2 and 5) and is formed as a flat-sided terminal 18 adapted to be received snugly between anchoring ears 19 which extend upwardly adjacent the forward ends of the reenforcing anges 16 immediately back of and integral with the upper end of the tube-embracing channels 61 of the body plates. Removable attaching means, such as a pair of bolts 80 extending through aligned apertures 8I in the ears 19 and bolt holes 82 in the terminal 19, rigidly secure the forward end of the handle in place.

At the lower end of the short reach, the handle i9 is formed with ya flat-sided terminal 83 which is snugly received by angular, upwardly extending anchoring brackets 84 which are formed in part by the upper end portions of the rear flanges 'le of the body plate. Rigid, removable attachment of the terminal 83 to the brackets 84 is effected by means such as a bolt 85 which extends through matching apertures 81 in the brackets and an aligned bolt hole 88 in the terminal.

ably mounted between the body plate adjacent the As a result of this preferred arrangement of l the handle I9, the nailing machine Ill may be located quite conveniently in a generallyhorizontal position for vertical nailing by grasping the upper or longer reach of the handle. However, where it is necessary to hold the machine in a vertical position or any position inclined from'the horizontal so as to drive the nail in a horizontal direction, or an angular direction between the horizontal and vertical, the shorter reach'of the handle provides a convenient hand hold inasmuch as the design of the hand hole 15 ho-okedtthrough an aperture 9| adjacent the rearv Vedge of the head flange 3| of the pusher. The

tensionlspring is loopedabout a pulley 92 rotatfront of the machine, and the remaining end of the spring is anchored by hooking it through an aperture 93 adjacent the rear end of the reenforcing flange 16 on the body plate I8. Selection of the body plate I8 for this purpose has been dice tated by economy of effort in assembly due to the fact that when the fixed end of the tension spring is anchored, upon completion of the body plate assembly, the spring is placed under substantial tension. Thus, the various parts of the machine are assembled with the body plate I1, with the several securing bolts projecting through and having their threaded vends ready to receive the body plate IS, which isthen maneuvered into assembled position and the end of the tensioning spring 99 is hooked into the anchoring aperture 93 before the nuts of the bolts are driven home.

The spring pulley 92 is positioned adjacent the plunger tube 45 directly above theV position assumed by the head flange 3l of the pusher I4 when the latter is in its foremost position. A bearing for the pulley 92 is provided by a sleeve 94 (Figs. 3 and 7) which is preferably xedly secured at its ends to the inside faces of the body plates I1 and I8 by means of a bolt 95 which' extends through aligned apertures 91 in the body plate and through the sleeve 94. It may be noted that the length of the pusher head flange 8| is such in relation to the pulley 92 that even in the foremost position of the pusher I4 the associated end of the tension spring is held backof the pulley axis so that constant tension is maintained in the spring.

Free' movement of the pusher 3| along the magazine Il is permitted by a handle-clearing, longitudinal slot 98 provided in the body plate I1 immediately above the top of the retaining flange 28 of the magazine'. The handle extension 32 of the pusher extends through and outwardly beyond the slot 98 Where it can be vmanipulated easily. y

The upper face of the base end of the extension 32 adjacent its rear edge is designed to engage the upper edge defining the slot 98 slidably Whereby to hold the pusherv against tipping forwardly under the influence of the tension spring 98.

This tilting influence of the tension springv is, of course, the result of the combination of forward and upward components of pulling forces created by the described spring tensioning arrangement.V These componentsV of the force are utilized at the rear end of the slot 98 for locking the pusher I4 in released p-osition.`V Thus, the upper rear portion of the slot is substantially enlarged to an extent slightly longer than the width of the handle extension as is shown at 99 so that when the pusher is in its rearmost position, the extreme tension of the spring 99 will cause theY handle extension 32 of the pusher to spring up intor the enlargement by upward tipping of the pusher (Fig. 2). The width of the enlarged opening 99 is sufficient to pass the handle extension 82 Vduring assembly of 'the machine. It may also be noted (Fig. 7) that the retaining flange 28 has its V assure positive holding of the pusher, such shoulder is formed on a rearward slant'to provideV a Ythat the upwardrcomponent relatively pointed, fixed catch which is adapted to extend under the forward edge of the handle extension 32* within a notch |0| between the edges of the head flange 3| and the adjacent finger hold flange 33. It has been found that the automatic lock thus effected holds quite positively and substantial force applied downwardly upon the handle extension is required to disen gage the same from the catch |00. Thus, there is practically no danger of accidental disengagement of the pusher from its locked position while the machine is being loaded with nails and the gateway 5i is open.

After the pusher I4 has projected the last nail into the driving passage 50, it is stopped by engagement of the forward edge of the upwardly extending portion of the body plate rearwardly of the butt 30 with the rear edge of the horizontal flange extension 6| (dot-dash position, Fig. 4).

For assuring proper placement of the nailing machine against the surface of the structure to be nailed so that the nail will be driven straight, as well as for protecting such surface against marring by the relatively narrow and angular base of the machine, a presser foot structure |02 is provided at the forward end of the base of the machine. According to the present invention this structure includes a foot proper |03 which is removably secured in place on the machine by means of an adapter bracket |04. The foot i |33 is elongated transversely of the Inachine so as to extend substantially to opposite sides of the base of the machine, and is preferably of approximately the same width as the front to rear dimension of the driving plunger section of the machine. The upper surface of the foot |03 is preferably brought up full against the base of the machine, and is held removably in position by means of screws |05 which are threaded into tapped holes |07 and extend down from laterally projecting connecting flanges |08 on the adapter bracket |04. A nailing hole |09 in the center portion of the foot registers with the nail driving passageway 5i?, and is dimensioned diametrically to permit passage of a nail and the tip of the driving end portion 3] of the driving blade.

'While in the present instance the foot |03 is shown as having a flat lower face in order to en gage properly with a flat surface to be nailed, it is to be understood that the lower face may also be shaped to conform to the contour of moulding or other distinctively shaped surfaces in which the nails must be properly spotted. In fact, the ready removability of the foot |03 is a substantial convenience in permitting ready replacement of the foot |03 by any selected other foot having the lower face contoured to adapt it for a special use. It will also be readily apparent that as a result of this construction, any desired number of presser feet of various engagement 4face shapes may be supplied at a low cost.

By preference, the adapter bracket |04 is formed of a single piece of sheet metal shaped to provide vertical side flanges ||0 carrying the attachment flanges |08 at their forward end Dortions and joined together at their rear portions by a web which passes under the base of the machine rearwardly of the engagement foot |03.

The side flanges lo are shaped to fit snugly against the lower outer faces of the channels 61 and the body portions of the side plates immediately therebehind, and are fastened in place by the bolt 63 and thelower screws "H whicheX- 10 tend through apertures ||2 and ili, respectively,- provided in the flanges for this purpose. For economy in manufacture, the engagement flanges |08 are formed from the material which is removed from between the side flanges ||0 forwardly of the web i|| for receiving the foot |03. An advantageous expedient for expediting accurate assembly of the foot |03 with the flanges |08 comprises an indexing boss Hfs depending from each of the flanges |08. These bosses are adapted to engage within respective index holes ||5 in the foot |03. The bosses ||4 may bein the form of partially struck-out slugs which can readily be removed to provide screw apertures if circumstances thus demand.

From the foregoing il will be apparent that the present invention provides a highly efficient, reliable nailing machine which can be made in small, portable form and of unusually light weight in proportion to its strength. In this connection the novel construction of the magazine structure and the driving plunger mechanism, permitting the use of relatively light weight sheet metal body plates, plays an important part.

The machine |0 has been termed a "nailing machine, not in a limiting sense, but merely for convenience in emphasizing its rugged qualities which adapt it especially well for nail driving.

While we have illustrated and described a preferred embodiment :if our invention, it is tobe understood that we do not thereby intend to limit our invention to the specific form disclosed, but contemplate that many modifications and substitutions may be made without departing `from l the scope and spirit of our invention.

We claim:

l. A nailing machine of the character described comprising, in combination, a magazine including a b ar having a track therein fcr a supply of nails, a driving plunger structure including a driving blade and a guide tube therefor, the lower end of said guide tube being associated .with the forward end of said bar, body plates encasing said magazine and said guide tube, a presser foot structure under said driving plunger structure and under the forward end of said magazine to assure positioning of the machine with said driving plunger structure perpendicular to a surface to be nailed and to save 'the surface from .being marred by the machine as a result of the concussion of a nail-driving blow im.- parted through said plunger structure, a handle :carried by said body plates for maneuvering the machine into nailing position, and means for pushing the nails toward the forward end of said track into position to be driven by said blade including a tensioning device supported by said body plates.

2. In combination in a machine including a reciprocable plunger structure and means dening a guideway for said structure, said `guideway means including a wall having an opening for access into or through the adjacent portion of the guideway, and means for closing said opening including a plate slidably mounted between said plunger structure and said wall, said'plate being exposed at its upper end to be digitally manipulated for opening and closing and having means for holding it in closing relation to said opening against accidental displacement by the reciprocations of said plunger structure.

3. In combination in a machine having a reciprocal plunger structure and means defining a guideway therefor including a wall having an opening `therein for entry into a part of the4 guideway, an elongated closure plate for said opening longitudinally slidable along the inner face of said wall opposite said plunger structure and having a handle for manipulation thereof outside of said guideway, and means for latching the closure plate in closed position to hold it against accidental opening by the reciprocal movements of said plunger structure, said means engaging said wall.

4. In combination in a machine of the character described, a vertically reciprocable driving plunger structure having a head at its upper end, a tubular guideway for said plunger structure including a wall having an opening adjacent one end thereof for insertion of a series of elements to be acted upon by said plunger structure, a magazine alined with said opening for receiving said elements, means for normally maintaining said plunger structure in a position wherein the lower end clears said opening so that there is a free passage from said opening to said magazine and the head is spaced from the upper end of said guide tube, a gateway for closing said opening comprising an elongated plate member slidably mounted along the inside face of said wail and adapted to extend beyond the upper end of said wall when in open position, and means on said plate member engageable with the upper portion of said wall in the closed position of the plate member for holding the latter'against accidental opening movement in reciprocations of the plunger structure. Y

5. In combination in a nailing machine of th character described, a nail magazine, a driving Aplunger structure, a pair of body plates encasing said magazine and said plunger structure and removably secured thereto, saidl body plates having the upper margins slanting rearwardly, and a substantially L-shaped handle having its longer reach substantially parallel to the base of the machine and its shorter reach extending downwardlyA adjacent the rear of the machine, the extremities of said longer and shorter reaches having terminals secured in the machine by and between said body plates adjacent the upper and lower ends' of the slanting upper margins of the body plates, the inside of the handle and the slanting plate margins defining a hand hole ofV greatest area adjacent the rear of the machine.

6. In combination in a nailing machine of the character described, a magazine structure forming the base of the machine, a driving plunger structure associated perpendicularly with the forward'end of the magazine structure, means providing a body structure within the angle between Sadmaeazine structure and said plunger structure, and a handle carried by said body structure and having an upper reach substantially parallel to the base of the machine and a rear reach extending substantially parallel to the plunger structure, said handle and said body structure cooperating to define a hand hole proi vidingadequate clearance to permit either reach of the handle to be grasped for maneuvering the machine into nailing position.

7. In combination in a machine of the character described including a reciprocable plunger structure and means defining a guideway for said structure, said guideway having a lateral opening,`a.closure gate for said opening, said gate being disposed inside of said guideway close to the vplane of the adjacent face of the plunger, and means for slidably guiding said gate for opening and closing movement comprising bearing meansopposing said adjacent-,face .ofthe oicular relationship, said plates being maintained 12 plunger inthe guideway and maintaining said adjacent face of the plunger from frictionally interfering with the gate when closed.

8. In combination in a machine of the character described, a plunger structure, a tubular guideway for said plunger structure including a Wall area closely opposing the plunger structure, said wall area having an opening therein for entry into said guideway, a channel in said wall area opposing said plunger structure and extending longitudinally from said opening, and a gate slidably mounted in said channel for closing said opening and adapted to be moved longitudinally within said channel into open and closed positions, those portions of said wall area remaining at opposite sides of said channel providing` sliding bearing surfaces for the plunger.

9. A driving machine of theV character described, comprising, in combination, a vertically resiprocable driving plunger having a striker head, means for guiding said plunger including a wall at one side of the plunger, a magazine adapted for feeding elements to be driven toward said Wall, an opening in said wall through which said magazine is adapted to be supplied with elements to be driven, and a vertically slidable gate for said opening lying between said wall and said plunger and having a handle projecting outwardly over the upper edge of said wall under said head for manipulation in opening and closing the gate.

10. A driving machine as dened in claim 9 including stop means, adjacent to and substantially upwardly offset relative to the upper edge portion of said wall which is overlain by the handle, engageable by said head at the end of a driving stroke to maintainthe head clear of the handle in the closed condition of the gate.

ll. In combination'in a'machine having a reciprocal plunger structure and a guide stusture therefor, said guide structure having a gateway` for passage thereinto of elements to be acted upon by said plunger structure, a gate comprising a flat member for closing said gateway movably mounted between said plunger and the adjacent wall area of the guide structure, said wall area being spaced from said plunger structure suiliciently to accommodate said gate and permit substantially free relative sliding movement between said gate and plunger structure, and releasably cooperating means on said gate and said guide structure holding the gate closed` against unintentional opening.

Y12. In combination in a driving machine of the character described, a vertical driving plunger structure, a horizontal magazine structure as-V sociated with the lower end portion of the plunger structure for containing a supply of elements to be driven, a pair of body plates encas-' ing and maintaining said structures in perpenin spaced relation by said structures and having the upper edges of diminishing height from the plunger structure to the rear end of the magazine structure and forming a chamber in the angle between said structures, a substantially L-shaped handle having an upper horizontal reach and a downwardly extending rear reach,

the terminal ends of said upper and rear'handleY reaches being secured between said body plates adjacent the upper and lower ends, respectively, of said upper 'edges' of said plates, the space cir'- cumscribed by the handle and said upper edges of the plates forming a hand hole ena-bling the handle to `be grasped at eitherv reach for maneu- 13 vering the machine, and means Within said chamber for urging :elements to be driven located Within said magazine toward and into position to be driven relative to said driving structure.

13. In combination in a driving machine of the character described, a driving plunger having an enlarged head, a guide tube for the plunger having a front Wall, a magazine for elements to be drivenby the plunger, means for urging the elements from the magazine toward said Wall, said wall havingl an opening aligned with said magazine for insertion of elements into the magazine, and a longitudinally slidable gate for said opening interposed between said plunger and said Wall and extending above the adjacent upper edge of said Wall, the remaining Walls of said tube extending above said adjacent upper edge and serving to stop said head short ofthe top of the gate in the depressed condition of the plunger.

14. In combination in a portable magazine type driving machine having a body and a driving plunger adapted to be impelled with substantial force when driving an element into an object, means for dissipating the driving shock and saving the surface of the object from being marred comprising a presser foot for direct engagement With the surface of the object and an adapter bracket, said adapter bracket comprising a single piece of metal conformed to embrace the body of the machine and having a pair of oppositely extending flanges projecting laterally from the base of the body at the point where the maximum effect of plunger force is manifest, said presser foot being of substantial breadth and length and extending lengthwise under said flanges, and means for detachablyfsecuring said foot to said flanges enabling the optional use with the adapter bracket of other presser feet to conform to various work surfaces.

15. In combination in a driving machine of the character described including means for feeding fastening elements and a reciprocable plunger structure for driving such elements, means defining a guideway for said plunger structure and having an opening cooperatively related to the feeding means for supplying the feeding means with driving elements therethrough, and a closure gate for said opening slidable longitudinally Within said guideway contiguous to the path of movement of the plunger for opening and closing said opening and serving as the abutment for the driving element next to be driven by the plunger, said guideway having means therein opposing the surface of the plunger which faces the closure gate and assur- REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,240,105 Vogel Apr. 29, 1941 545,298 Loetscher Aug. 27, 1895 1,224,075 Crofoot Apr. 24, 1917 1,539,505 Polzer May 26, 1925 1,716,579 Dougherty June 11, 1929 1,717,479 Wakeman June 18, 1929 1,905,241 Polzer Apr. 25, 1933 1,939,632 Randall Dec. 12, 1933 1,959,888 Wilkins May 22, 1934 1,990,725 Crofoot et al. Feb. 12, 1935 1,996,640 Case Apr. 2, 1935 2,080,130 Hansen May 11, 1937 2,087,779 Pankonin July 20, 1937 2,109.203 Spencer Feb. 22, 1938 2,181,387 Weber Nov. 28, 1939 2,227,826 Drypolcher et a1. Jan. 7, 1941 2,239,935 Scherman Apr. 29, 1941 2,239,963 Hoffert Apr. 29, 1941 987,024 Sturtevant Mar. 14, 1911 1,945,377 Posnack Jan. 30, 1934 1,994,567 Cavanagh Mar. 19, 1935 2,268,102 Attula Dec. 30, 1941 2,289,308 Fancher July 7, 1942 1,564,957 Heyn Dec. 8, 1925 1,599,774 Kuch Sept. 14, 1926 1,713,820 Crofoot May 21, 1929 1,943,661 Ellacott Jan. 16, 1934 2,130,734 l Drypolcher Sept. 20, 1938 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 250,153 Great Britain Apr. 8, 1926 141,895 Great Britain Apr. 29, 1920 117,717 Great Britain Aug. 6, 1918 586,347 Germany Oct. 20, 1933 626,353 Germany Feb. 25, 1936 773,819 France Sept. 10, 1934 250,153 Great'Britain Apr. 8, 1926 

